Molecular Design and Photophysical Characterization of Synthetic Bacteriochlorins for Solar Energy Conversion and Photodynamic Therapy

<p>The design, photophysical characteristics and some potential applications of synthetic bacteriochlorins are discussed. Bacteriochlorins: e.g., bacteriochlorophylls) are tetrapyrrole macrocycles with two reduced pyrrole rings, whereas chlorins: e.g., chlorophylls) and porphyrins: e.g., hemes) have one and zero reduced pyrrole rings. Molecular design characteristics are revealed by understanding the effects of substituent types and patterns and the central metal ion on the photophysical properties and electronic structure. These effects are elucidated via studies of the optical absorption and emission spectra and excited-state decay pathways, and analysis of the molecular-orbital characteristics within the four-orbital model. The studies also encompass analysis of the properties of bacteriochlorins as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: PDT). The factors studied and correlated include photostability, redox potentials, photophysical properties, electrochemical and molecular-orbital characteristics, reactive-oxygen-species production, photosensitizer cellular uptake and distribution. Collectively, the studies address the design of synthetic bacteriochlorins for solar-energy conversion and photomedicine.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Yang, Eunkyung

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dewey Holten

• Chemistry

Language dc:language

English (en)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7936/K71N7Z5K

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:etd-2074